About Sacred Heart · Raywood, Texas
Sacred Heart Catholic Church is a small, historically African-American parish in the rural community of Raywood, Liberty County, Texas, in the Diocese of Beaumont. Founded by Creole Catholic families who migrated from Louisiana in the late 1880s, the mission was dedicated in 1935 and grew into a full parish in 1952. The parish was originally pastored by the Josephite Fathers (Society of St. Joseph) from 1952 to 1997, and since 1997 has been served by the Missionary Society of St. Paul (MSP), an order from Nigeria. Today the parish continues as a tight-knit rural community with weekday Masses, a Sunday liturgy, active lay ministries, and affiliated organizations including the Knights of Peter Claver and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.
- Established
- 1935 (mission); 1952 (parish)
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Fr. Donald Eruaga, M.S.P.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Beaumont
Why belong here
Sacred Heart is a welcoming rural parish with deep historical roots in Liberty County and a vibrant liturgical and community life despite its small size. Parishioners can worship at weekday Masses (Tuesday and Friday), a Sunday liturgy, and a Saturday vigil that alternates with sister parish Our Mother of Mercy, with novena devotions on Tuesdays and Rosary and choir opportunities for those who want to be involved. Beyond the liturgy, members serve through the Knights of Peter Claver, the Ladies Auxiliary, the St. Vincent de Paul Conference, the Cemetery Committee, the Pastoral and Finance Councils, religious education for children and adults (including RCIA), and outreach to the sick and homebound — making it easy to find a place to belong.
Mass times at Sacred Heart
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 30 minutes before Mass
- By appointment (call the parish office)
Parish History
Sacred Heart has its roots in the late 1880s, when a small group of Black Catholic families left Louisiana and settled in the rural community of Raywood in Liberty County, Texas. They farmed the land and traveled to Our Mother of Mercy in Ames for Mass, sacraments, weddings, and funerals — by wagon, horseback, Model T, or on foot. After many years of planning, Jesse and Ella Griffith donated the land, and in 1935 the first Sacred Heart church was built and dedicated as a mission of Ames. The mission community added a cemetery, a hall, and a rectory built by parishioners' own hands, and in 1952 the mission was elevated to a full parish under its first full-time pastor, Fr. James Faherty, S.S.J.
- 1880s: Creole Catholic families arrive from Louisiana
- 1935: First Sacred Heart church dedicated as a mission of Our Mother of Mercy (Ames)
- 1952: Mission becomes Sacred Heart Parish; Fr. James Faherty, S.S.J. first full-time pastor
- Nov. 24, 1977: Current church and hall dedicated under Fr. Gregory Frank, S.S.J.
- 1995: Family Life Center dedicated under Fr. John McBrearty, S.S.J.
- 1997: Missionaries of St. Paul of Nigeria (M.S.P.) assume pastoral care
- Jan. 1, 2002: Parish formally operates under the Missionaries of St. Paul
Religious Vocations from the Parish
Sacred Heart Catholic Church is proud to have nurtured three religious vocations from among its parishioners.
- Sister Angela Fontenot
- Sister John Berchman
- Father Brian Fontenot, O.P. (Order of Preachers / Dominicans)
Liturgical Ministries
Parishioners serve the liturgy through a full range of lay ministries, led by named chairpersons. The Adult Choir is directed by Lynn Fontenot, and altar servers begin in the 4th grade with no maximum age limit; they gather before Sunday Mass at 10:10 a.m. Ushers serve as the 'first representatives' of Christ at Mass and welcome anyone willing to help, with no special training required.
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion — Chair: Priscilla Thompson
- Lectors — Chair: Catherine Boutte
- Ushers — Chair: Joseph Espree
- Altar Servers (4th grade and up)
- Choir / Adult Choir — Director: Lynn Fontenot
- Rosary Group — Chair: Jerry LaChapelle
Religious Education & Sacraments
Sacred Heart offers faith formation for children, youth, adults, families, and elders seeking deeper spirituality and understanding of the Catholic faith. The Parish Catechetical Leader is Patricia Espree, with Michael Espree as assistant. Youth preparing for Confirmation typically take part in a two-year process in the 7th and 8th grades; adults preparing for Confirmation or entrance into the Church do so through RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults). Infant baptism requires parents to be active registered members and godparents to meet the parish's published guidelines.
- Religious Education / CCD — Patricia Espree, Catechetical Leader; Michael Espree, Assistant
- RCIA — Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
- Baptism preparation for infants (pre-baptismal class required)
- First Communion preparation
- Confirmation preparation (two-year program, typically grades 7–8)
Parish Organizations
Several lay organizations support the parish's mission and outreach. The Knights of Peter Claver Council #83 is the largest historically African-American Catholic lay organization in the United States, founded in Mobile, Alabama, and headquartered in New Orleans. The KPC Ladies Auxiliary Court #83 — organized in 1926 — is a parallel women's group. The parish also hosts a St. Vincent de Paul Raywood Conference that provides a wide range of social services to those in need.
- Knights of Peter Claver, Council #83 — Grand Knight: Joseph Espree; meets third Sunday at 9 a.m.; annual rib sale on Super Bowl weekend
- Knights of Peter Claver Ladies Auxiliary, Court #83 — Grand Lady: Robynn Miller
- St. Vincent de Paul (Raywood Conference) — Chair: Grezelda Ligeons; Phone: 936-587-4246; Email: [email protected]; P.O. Box 422, Raywood, TX 77582
St. Vincent de Paul Services
Founded in 1833, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul is a worldwide organization of lay Catholics following Christ's call to serve the poor, the suffering, and the deprived. The Raywood Conference provides direct services to neighbors in need across Liberty County.
- Weekly visiting to the sick and shut-in
- Food sharing programs
- Assistance with utilities
- Temporary lodging assistance for the homeless and abused
- Prison ministry
- Income tax preparation assistance
- Advocacy, counseling, and information
- Embracing the lonely, forgotten, and alienated
Parish Committees & Councils
Sacred Heart is governed and supported by a Pastoral Council, Finance Council, and several working committees. The Pastoral Council advises the pastor on the temporal and spiritual welfare of the parish and meets on the fourth Tuesday of each month; any parishioner may attend. The Fundraiser Committee meets on the second Tuesday during planning stages. The Religious Gift Shop and the Cemetery Committee round out the parish's organizational life.
- Pastoral Council — Chair: Lorita Sterling; meets fourth Tuesday of the month
- Finance Council — Chair: Marcie Arceneaux
- Fundraiser Committee — Chair: Frankie Espree; meets second Tuesday during planning
- Cemetery Committee — Director: Joseph Espree (members: Gerard Eaglin, Vincent Espree)
- Religious Gift Shop
Cemetery
Sacred Heart maintains a parish cemetery (also known as Raywood Catholic Cemetery), originally built by parishioners themselves in the early mission years. To make funeral arrangements or purchase a cemetery plot, contact the parish office at 936-587-4631; donations to help maintain the grounds are welcomed.
- Funeral arrangements through parish office (936-587-4631)
- Cemetery plot purchases available
- Donations accepted for grounds upkeep
Our Mission
The parish's mission statement commits the pastor and parishioners to unwavering service to God and His children, providing a welcoming environment for spiritual growth and direction, and the enrichment of worship through the Eucharist, active liturgical participation, and personal and group prayer, stewardship, faith sharing, social involvement, and strong moral and spiritual education for children and youth. The parish community works to maintain a loving and caring environment through its many groups, organizations, and ministries.
- Pastoral Council, Finance Council, Pastoral Team
- Bazaar Committee and Fish Dinner Committee
- Knights and Ladies of St. Peter Claver
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul
- Stewardship Committee
- Liturgical ministries and generous parishioners
Visit, Contact & Giving
The parish office is open on Thursdays from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.; at other times callers may leave a message on the office phone (messages are checked regularly) or email the parish. Online contributions can be made securely through the parish's online giving link on its homepage. Photographs of parish and community life are shared on a Facebook page linked from the parish's Links page.
- Office: 3730 FM 160 North, P.O. Box 429, Raywood, TX 77582
- Phone: 936-587-4631 | Fax: 936-587-1012
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Thursday 11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
- Secure online giving available via the parish website
- Community photos: facebook.com/james.lachapelle2
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. James Faherty, S.S.J.1952–1958
First full-time pastor; served again 1968–1975
- Fr. Charles McOsker, S.S.J.1958–1960
- Fr. Eugene McKenna, S.S.J.1960–1963
- Fr. James Shappert, S.S.J.1964–1968
- Fr. James Faherty, S.S.J.1968–1975
Returned for a second tenure
- Fr. Gregory Frank, S.S.J.1975–1983
Instrumental in building the current church and hall, dedicated Nov. 24, 1977
- Fr. Edward Eichman, S.S.J.1983–1987
- Fr. Francis McCarthy, S.S.J.1987–1991
- Fr. Paul Kluthe, S.S.J.1991–1994
- Fr. John McBrearty, S.S.J.1994–1997
Dedicated the new Family Life Center in 1995
- Fr. Ralph Asika, M.S.P.1997–2001
First Missionary of St. Paul pastor
- Fr. Felix Elosi, M.S.P.2001–2002
- Fr. Charles Atuah, M.S.P.2003–2004
- Fr. Alphonsus Enelichi, M.S.P.2004–2008
- Fr. George Okeahialam, M.S.P.2008–2014
- Fr. Ayo Efodigbue, M.S.P.2014–2019
- Fr. Andrew Toyinbo, M.S.P.2020–2022
- Fr. Emmanuel Mbam, M.S.P.2022–2023
- Fr. Donald Eruaga, M.S.P.2023–Present
Current pastor